Aluminium Cans

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Recycle a can, offset your journey

Date:30-Dec-09Author: Michelle Cook

Crushed Aluminium Cans

According to new information from
RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) when partygoers recycle six
aluminium cans they are effectively offsetting a 25 kilometre train journey, a
17 kilometre bus ride or ten kilometre trip in an average size car.

"Whichever way you choose to get
to your destination this New Years Eve, simply by recycling aluminium cans, you
can travel without leaving a footprint", says Planet Ark's
Campaigns Manager, Brad Gray. "When you choose drinks in aluminium
cans and then recycle the can you are reducing your impact on the environment
by cutting carbon emissions and reducing waste".

Making aluminium cans from
recycled materials uses 95% less energy than producing them from scratch.

"Cans are light and easily
crushed which makes it really easy to take them home with you if the party
you're at doesn't have recycling facilities", says Gray.

The RMIT research shows that when
they are recycled, aluminium cans are the most sustainable drink container
available. They are endlessly recyclable because aluminium doesn't degrade
during the recycling process.

Since
Australians first started drinking out of aluminium in the 1970s more than 38
billion cans have been recycled. As aluminium is 100% and infinitely recyclable,
those cans can go on saving our precious resources for thousands of years.

With the festive season in full
swing, Planet Ark is encouraging everyone to recycle to reduce their impact on
the environment at a time of year when consumption is at its highest.